Calls for Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board chief to resign

It is claimed Lilian Williams was seriously neglected at two hospitals before she died

Calls have been made for the chief executive of a health board at the centre of a review into standards of care to resign.

Several complaints were made about Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board at a Bridgend public meeting.

One was from the family of Lilian Williams who allege she was neglected at two hospitals before she died.

Paul Roberts said he would not resign, but would work to improve care standards.

Gareth Williams who has been calling for a public inquiry following the alleged neglect of his mother, Lilian Williams, at the Princess of Wales and Neath Port Talbot hospitals before her death in 2012, made one of the resignation calls.

It was met by a standing ovation and cries of 'hear, hear' and 'shame on you' at the meeting which was attended by about 100 people.

Several other people called for Mr Roberts to step down.

Relatives of patients at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend and other hospitals run by the health board also spoke at the meeting.

One woman claimed her husband died from an infection after a catheter was left in for ten months.

Peter Walsh, the chief executive of charity Action Against Medical Action which organised the meeting, said that they would continue to campaign for a full public inquiry.

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins said she would carry on supporting the campaign.

'Very difficult'

"I listened and learned a lot. I thought the people who told their stories were very brave to do so in such a public areaPaul Roberts, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board

Paul Roberts said he had been listening to and would continue to listen to patients and their relatives' concerns.

He told the meeting some measures had already been put in place to improve patient care and safety.

He also said mortality rates had come down.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford commissioned an independent review into standards of Mrs Williams' care, although the remit of that review has been criticised.

After the meeting Mr Roberts is had been "very difficult to listen to patients and relatives about their experiences".

"The health service has definitely let them down in particular local health services in the ABMU health board," he said.

"I listened and learned a lot. I thought the people who told their stories were very brave to do so in such a public area."

Mr Roberts said he would not be stepping down because he wanted to stay in his job to make sure that the service was improved.

"My job is to run the service and make sure we really focus on the improvements needed.

"My responsibility is to make sure that I oversee the process of putting things right," he added.